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216 <br /> <br />the costs should be kept to a minimum and that he could not <br />afford the $23,000 which was currently his share of the cost. <br />Mr. Williams added that his cost has increased since he <br />purchased additional property. <br /> <br /> Ms. Debbie Luckedune, representing NationsBank, stated <br />that NationsBank is willing to bear their share of the cost <br />for the project and asked that the project be carefully <br />planned to avoid lengthy construction. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jon Bright, 1601 Hardware Avenue and owner of a <br />downtown business, stated that the planned improvements <br />3rd Street will provide a major entrance onto the downtown <br />mall and as such felt the cost should be shared by other <br />property owners on the downtown mall and not only those <br />adjacent to the project. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Tobey, business owner on the mall, stated that <br />he felt the improvements will be a very important project for <br />the mall and he agreed that the cost should be shared by <br />other businesses downtown. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers the public hearing was <br />closed. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Rev. Edwards on what the <br />adjacent property owners would want to eliminate from the <br />project, Mr. Williams stated that he felt money could be saved <br />by eliminating the pavers and reducing the number of trees. <br />Mr. Williams added that he felt the most important aspects of <br />the project are good sidewalks and the undergrounding of <br />utilities. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards questioned whether allowing the property <br />owners to delay their first payment for their share by two <br />years would make the proposal more palatable or fair and Mr. <br />Williams stated that he felt it would be more palatable. <br /> <br /> Ms. Katherine Respass, co-owner of the Yard Shop on 3rd <br />Street, stated that the Yarn Shop is going out of business and <br />felt that downtown business could not afford another lengthy <br />construction to block customers. <br /> <br /> Ms. slaughter questioned whether it would be possible to <br />have value engineering of the project to try to reduce the <br />cost. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja replied that he felt the only thing that could <br />be changed and not ruin the project was to change the paving. <br />Mr. Huja recommended that Council approve the district and bid <br />the project with pavers as an alternative. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Daugherty, Mr. Huja <br />stated that the construction time would be the same with or <br />without pavers. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter questioned whether the City has the <br />authority to include the entire downtown mall in an assessment <br />district and Mr. Gouldman replied that he was only aware of <br />being able to include those property abutting improvements <br />but would research the matter. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix suggested that the matter be deferred in <br />order to give staff time to come back with alternatives and <br />implications. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever requested that an analysis of the project <br />be done to better define what the broader benefits of the <br />project are versus the direct benefit to adjacent businesses, <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards expressed concern that Mr. Williams' <br />assessment would have been less had the project been completed <br />earlier because of the additional property he has acquired <br /> <br /> <br />